I am a senior at the University of Wyoming majoring in Art Education and
would like to ask a few questions regarding the creation of art for
specific holidays in the classroom. Do you think that these projects
are a sort of "recipe" art that should be avoided at the elementary
level? If so, what types of alternative projects could be used during
Halloween, Christmas, and Thanksgiving? >>
Dear Roxanne,
This year, after being "warned" that the previous Art Teacher did too many
"crafty projects" with the kids, I decided to really stick to my Art
Curriculum sans any holiday projects. Well, here we are at the end of
October, and today a 5th grader (while finishing his perspective
project/drawing) asked "Aren't we going to do anything Halloweeny?" His
teacher had opted NOT to do anything in class! My solution here, albeit a
time consuming one, is to TALK to the teachers...via memo, maybe? Find out
which ones are doing holiday related crafts, or perhaps they can finish
something they create in art class in their regular classes. This is what I
will do. I hope the kids can create something that gives them the feel or the
opportunity to artisitically express each holiday. You know the old
saying...all work...!
Hope this helps.
mp